Australia confirms first mass-mortality from H5 bird flu in native seabirds

Australia warned on Aug 3 against the risk of a wider spread of H5N1 bird flu after its first mass-mortality episode among seabirds killed about 50 greater crested terns off the coast south of Adelaide.



However, there is no evidence yet of the virus on Australia’s farms, many of which have locked down to safeguard poultry flocks since it was first detected in June.



Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said testing confirmed H5N1 bird flu in a group of 49 dead and 35 sick terns found by helicopter surveillance on rocks off Cape Jaffa, 250km from Adelaide on July 31.



Australia’s tally of 74 confirmed cases is spread as wide as the states of Western Australia and Queensland, though most cases were in South Australia, Collins added/.